News
Glouster Police Officers Fired, One Charged In Crash
By: Susan Tebben
Posted on:
Update 3:51 p.m.
Officers Ryan Keeney and Joshua Dewuell have been terminated from their positions at the Glouster Police Department as a result of an internal investigation into a crash that occurred early Monday morning, according to a press release by Glouster Mayor Miles Wolf.
“Both have been found to be negligent in their conduct which lead to an automobile accident early this morning,” Wolf stated in the release. “Both had a lapse in judgment which resulted in an internal ‘conduct unbecoming of a police officer’ (violation).”
The Glouster Village Council will be asked Wednesday evening to approve the opening of the hiring process for replacements, Wolf wrote.
Two police officers in the village of Glouster have been placed under suspension, one of whom now has charges against him, according to the mayor of the village.
Officers Ryan Keeney and Joshua Dewuell were suspended Monday after an automobile accident in which they were both allegedly intoxicated, Glouster Mayor Miles Wolf said in a press release.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, which investigated the crash, Keeney, 26, was driving a 2000 Ford pickup truck westbound on State Route 685 when he lost control in a curve. The car then slid off the right side of the road, hitting the house, Lt. George Harlow of the Athens post said.
Keeney, a full-time police officer who was currently still in the probationary phase of his employment, was charged with failure to control and operating a vehicle while under the influence. He was taken into custody briefly before being released.
Dewuell, “who was apparently intoxicated as well, was not charged,” Wolf said in the release.
Both refused field sobriety tests, according to Harlow.
“An internal investigation is currently being conducted,” Wolf wrote. “(The officers’) employment status will depend upon what the chief of police uncovers during this investigation.”
No injuries were reported from the crash, but Wolf said “substantial” damage was done to the house.
Results of the internal investigation are expected Monday afternoon, the release stated.
A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Tuesday in Keeney’s case.